Specialist training. Great rewards.
You will need the drive and commitment to work with young people aged 12 to 18.
In return, we offer both custodial care and specialist youth justice training, plus the chance for fully funded further studies to develop your career.
You will learn the theory of child development to understand young people’s behaviours, and the all too often emotional pain and trauma behind them.
You will learn how your approach and personal interactions can make a big difference in young people’s lives.
Top ways you learn on the job
Pay
Your pay depends on where you work and your weekly shift hours. You may also have opportunities to work additional paid hours.
You will start on a 37 hour contract until your initial training is complete. After this you can choose to increase your hours to 39 or 41 hours a week.
Example salary for a 39 hour week
| Youth justice worker |
|
| Outer London (HM YOI Feltham) |
£30,735 |
| South and South East (HM YOI Cookham Wood, STC Medway) |
£27,843 |
| Other locations (HM YOI Wetherby, HM YOI Werrington) |
£22,843 |
See salary for all weekly shift hours
HM YOI Feltham
| Youth justice worker |
||
| 37 hours | £29,383* | |
| 39 hours | £30,735* | |
| 41 hours | £32,086* | |
|
* includes market supplement of £5,000
|
||
HM YOI Cookham Wood, STC Medway
| Youth justice worker |
||
| 37 hours | £26,644* | |
| 39 hours | £27,843* | |
| 41 hours | £29,043* | |
|
* includes market supplement of £5,000
|
||
HM YOI Wetherby, HM YOI Werrington
| Youth justice worker |
|
| 37 hours | £21,644 |
| 39 hours | £22,843 |
| 41 hours | £24,043 |
Have a level 4 diploma, NVQ, HNC or above?
| Fast-track | Join an accelerated learning programme with fully funded studies. |
| 15 months | Progress to a youth justice worker specialist role in 15 months. |
| Use your studies | Open to relevant qualifications in psychology, teaching, sociology and more. |
Benefits
- 25 days of annual holiday (rising to 30 days after 10 years of service)
- paid time off for public holidays and 1 extra privilege day
- Civil Service pension of up to 20% of your salary
- childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, travel loans and other benefits
Training and support
You will begin your career with 12 weeks of training.
Weeks 1 and 12 are in the workplace getting to know where you will work.
Week 2 to 11 are spent on Prison Officer Entry Level Training (POELT) specialising in working with young people in custody. This is likely to take place away from your home unless you have a training centre near you.
You will receive full pay and expenses. At the end of the training you will be awarded a NVQ Level 3 qualification.
Every new youth justice worker also has an experienced member of staff as a mentor. They are on hand to give support especially during the first weeks of your career.
Career progression
You will study a level 4 youth justice qualification within the first 5 years of your career.
You will learn about speech, language and communication needs, and the essential skills for child protection and safeguarding.
This is a 13 month training course and you will be given time, support and technology to help you balance your working duties.
Once completing this you will have the opportunity to continue studying (fully funded) a fully accredited Youth Justice Foundation Degree.
